The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organised a conference with the State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs), Special Rapporteurs, and Monitors in New Delhi. The goal was to enhance collaboration between the NHRC, its Special Rapporteurs and Monitors, and the SHRCs to promote and protect human rights in the country.

In the inaugural session, NHRC, India Acting Chairperson, Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani emphasised the importance of collaboration in assessing the improvement in the human rights situation. She highlighted the need for addressing challenges in complaint management, disseminating NHRC advisories at the state level, and sharing best practices. SHRCs were encouraged to visit facilities like Ashramshalas, mental health institutions, and shelters for vulnerable groups to bridge implementation gaps and ensure actions reach grassroots levels.

NHRC, India Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal stressed that SHRCs must follow up with the State authorities for the implementation of the NHRC advisories for the protection of vulnerable sections of society. NHRC and SHRCs need to continue working in tandem to strengthen the human rights institutional framework in the country. He also pointed out the importance of SHRCs supporting NHRC Special Rapporteurs and Monitors in coordinating with local as well as senior authorities at the State level to assess situations and suggest corrective measures. He reiterated the joining of the HRCNet portal by all the remaining SHRCs to avoid the duplication of interventions and the wastage of manpower.

The first session, chaired by the NHRC, India Acting Chairperson, Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, focused on complaint management, follow-up actions on NHRC advisories, sharing best practices, and capacity building for SHRCs. It also discussed suggestions from SHRCs for more effective collaboration with NHRC in promoting human rights.

The second session, chaired by Shri Bharat Lal, focused on the visits and reports of Special Rapporteurs and Monitors. It was emphasised that their reports should be crisp and on fixed parameters to help the Commission make necessary recommendations to the concerned Government authorities. Expanding the areas of assessment visits and prioritising a calendar of their activities to get SHRC support was also emphasised.

The discussions led to several ideas for improving cooperation between the NHRC, its Special Rapporteurs and Monitors, and SHRCs to assess the human rights situation on the ground to suggest necessary measures to the Government agencies in India.

The conference was attended by the Chairpersons, Members and senior officers of the respective State Human Rights Commissions, senior officers of the NHRC and its Special Monitors and Rapporteurs.

*****

NSK/VCK